Trap-door for railway-cars and similar structures.



0. M. EDWARDS.

RENEWED SEPT.20,1912.

Patented Dec. 8, 1914...

I 3 SHEET-S-SHEET 1. Fig] APPLICATION FILED DBO. 20, 1909.

TRAP DOOR POR RAILWAY CARS AND SIMILAR STRUCTURES.

0. M. EDWARDS. TRAP Doon POR RAILWAY GARS AND SIMILAR STRUC'IUBE-S.

APPLICATION FILED DBG. 20. 1909, BENEWED SEPT. 20, 1912.

Patented Dec. 8, W14.

3 SHEETS-BEEF); il

0. M. EDWARDS. TRAP DooR PoR RAILWAY CARS AND SIMILAR STRUCTURES.

APPLICATION FILED DEO. 20, 1909. BBNEWED SBF120, 1912. 1,1 1 9,940.

Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

3 BHEBTB*BHEET 3.

I'verMEdu/QrdS, woe who@ UNITED STATES PATE @FFI/CE.

:OLIVER EDWARDS, F SYRAUSE, NEW YORK.

"Srpecica'tion of Letters Patent.

TRAP-DOOR. FOIE RAILWAY-CARS AND SIMILAR STARQUC'IURES`x Patenten pelas, 1ere.

Application filed Deeeinben 20, 1909, Serial/No.. 534.052. Renewed September 20, 1912.*7Setia1 No. 721,513.'

n' citizen lof 'the United"States, -residing ,at

Syracuse, county of Onondaga,z State ofD Newv Yorlnthave invented certain new. and

useful 'Improvements in VTrap-'Doors for Railway-Cars and Simi-lar Striictuesof which the 'following is a full, clear, and

'finiich `lower than the car platform. -At all `stations the vestibuledoors are opened and exact description, reference being hadv to drawings accompanying thesaine.

i This invention lrelates generally 'to' trap doors for` cai-sand similar structures; such for instanceas are used to coverand uncover the 'steps vleading to and from tlie'cnd platforms of passenger cars and certain features closed, but atvtlie lstations where the'platforms are substantially level with the plat- Vforms of the cars the trap doors are not opened for the ingress and .egress of pas- I sengers. Vhen the stations are reached where 'the platforms Aare lower than .the

platforms vof the cars the trap doors are opened to enable the passengers' to 'readily enter and leave the cars by the steps usually provided for this purpose.

One ofl the objects of this invention is toprovide a. trap door adapted to eiitend under and beyond the ordinary vestibule door and -so combined with the platform `as to permit .of ,the vestibule doors opening and clos ing without opening thetrap door.`

Another objectv i's to provide a trap door that can be readily opened after the vestibule door isfopenedm and which when closed `will cover the space naturally occupied by the vestibule door when fully. opened.

Another object is'to so combinev the door Aand the hinges by which itn is mounted in the platform that the springs Which more or less count-erbalance the Weight of the door cany be quickly and readily l'removed from their operative positionland"returned there to without displacing the ixed`-portions of the yh'ingiiig means by Vwhich the door is mounted in thek platform. y

',Another object is to provide means for a fine adjustment 'of the tension of the springY `section* on line 9-9 of Fig.

or springs Yused to incre or less -counterbalance the Weight of the door.

I )ther obects willappear from the deserliptions hereinafter giizjen.

he invention' consists inthe combinations of parts o r devices herein set forth and particularly pointedout inlthe claims hereunto annexed and which forni a-prtion of this'specification.

Figure l is a horizontal sectional View through a portion of the vestibule'of a car above the platform showingr in plan View a portion of the platforni'with.. one embodinient of my improved trap door mounted therein. l* ig. 2. shows in. vertical section on line 2 2 of Fig. l that Whichis there seen when looking frornvthe right toward the` left, a portion. of the vestibule`door being seen in sectioii. Fig. 3 illustrates in side elevation aportion of a car, the steps andthe trap door, as it is seen when closed over the steps, -with portion`of the carv vestibule door inY closed position over thetrap door. Fig. 4 shows in vertical section on line-4 4 of Fig; 1 that which isl there seen with the car vestibule door in the open position and in section, the trap door being there-shown' in dotted lines in the open position andin full lines in the closed'and locked position.

5 shows in vertical section' on 1:21 enlarged scale that whichfisseenon line of the door in theplatforiii-and the combination of the adjusting means and springs .fi-5 of Fig. l, portions of the doorbeing broken away to better illustrate the hingingtherewith. Fig. 6 illustrates in 'elevationeo t ev removable portion lof the hinge andthe Fig. '7 illustrates in vertical section on l"line 7 7 or" Fig. 5 vone of the hinge brackets and portions lof the adjusting meansiseen in position to hold the springs under tension.

l f idjiistingv means seen at the leftjof .Figi 5. v 3

Fig.'8 illustrates'in cross section on linel '8%8 of Fig. 5 that portion of the meii'berv received( by the opposite hinge bracket and' the manner of connecting the springs'there with so. that the tension th reof may :act'

upon the door. Fig. 9 illustrates in cross that Which'is there seen including the manner of cennecting the hinge to the door. i

Like letters of refcrenceiwhere'ver they occur indicate corresponda several gures ofthe drawings.

parts of the A' represents a portion of the endV platform of a car in which the trap door B is Lhung so that it may be moved or swung from the position seen in Figs. 1 and 2 to that seen in dotted lines in Fig. 4. The end platform shown includes the usual vertical side posts. i j

C represents the vestibule door which is mounted to swing on a vertical axis and over the trap door, when the same is closed,

when the door C is opened or closed.

` D D represent the step's of the car which re to be covered and uncovered by the trap oor.-

B The trap door B is preferably constructed of metal in the manner shown, but it may be of any desired construction adapted to serve the purpose hereinfset forth. The trap door, as shown, is composed of a flat sheet of-metafb of substantially the dimenj sions of the door and a second sheet of metal b" which after being suitably bent into shape, is secured atY its edges tolthe edges of e plate b by any suitable means, the plates being separated-from one another a't their central portions by any suitable means as b2, so that the door is reinforcedon the truss principle.y This lconstruction is no necessary part of the present invention and is described and claimcd'in Letters Patent No. 942,711, dated December 7, 1909. The' trap door isfurther strengthened or reinforced '.by binding strips o, o', 02, at three of its edges and by a threshold piece O at the fourth edge portion which is the one adjacent to the exterior side portion of the car. p This door is preferably hinged to the car in the manner illustrated so as to move toward` the end of the car in opening, but it may be otherwise hinged in the platform if desired. As shown two brackets a and a are secured to the' car or platform one of which, a is attached to the platform near the inner edge of the door opening in the platform and the other', a is attached to the platform near the outer portion of said door opening, the trap door extending beyond ,this outer bracket as is clearly seen in Fig. 5. 'The-bracket a carries a removable journal a2 which is adapted to be rotated in the bracket for adjusting the trap door spring and is provided with aprojecting part extending laterally from the bracket and entering a bearing member se cured to the lower side ofl thel door. rlhis removable part or journal at is of sullicient dimensions to be readily removed in an endwise direction from the bracket in which it is-held by the adjusting means so that the torsione-t spring. or `springs S, best secu in Fig. 5, can. be put into place and removed therefrom 'through the opening in the bracket which receives the part a, as iS clearly seen in Figs. 5 and of the draW-` ings. The bracket a preferably provided ,the 'form shown.

Vwhich in arrangement correspond with the holes, or openings in the bracket, each "series of holes being arranged in line with one of the holes a: inthe bracket. These series of openings in the removable part a2 are not arranged in line with one another but each series is placed at a di ll'erent angular position in the circumference of the removable part from each of the others, there preferably being two openings clear through such removable part in each series as is more particularly shown in Fig. 7, so that only one opening in one series registers with one of the three openings in the bracket a at a time. An adjusting pin Z is received in one of the three holes in the bracket and in one of the three series of holes in the part a2 to secure the two together. Each series as thus formed provides for four different positions of the removable part agin the bracket a, and as each of the three series shown are arranged at Tlillerent angular positions in the circum- Lference of suc removable part an eXceedingly lineadjustment of the tension of the spring or springS is provided by this *form of adjusting means. This removable part ci olf the hinge is provided at its outer end,

with a portion adapted to receive a wrench by which it can be turned in the bracket to give the spring or springs the desired tension to more or less counterbalanee the weight of the door and at the opposite end of' such part a suitable recess is made to slidably receive the end or ends of the lspring or springs S, as seen in Fig. 5, so

that as the part a2 is rotated, the spring or springs are put under tension, the opposite end vor ends thereof being received in a rej cess inA that part of the hingefor bearing member ixedly attached to the opposite part of the trap doorl in the manner seen in Figs. 5 und 8. As shown flat torsional springs are.` preferably used but any form of spring may be used that is desired which is adapted to serve the purpose served by A As shown the hinge orl bearingmcmber is made to extend nearly across the door andthe spring or springs are received therein so' that they are inv closed and notin a position to be interfered with in the ordinary use of the car and trap door. 1 i

The hinge or bearing member a* attached to the door is preferably `l'ormed as shown,l that is, of a portion of sheet metal bent into proper form and extending substantially across the greater part of what might be termed the length of the door and in which are secured the parts a, a, the part a (relIlC bers of the door.

ceiving the lpintle or journal aT of bracket a and one end of the spring or sprlngs S `as seen in Fig. 5 and the other part a receiving the end of jo'urnal a2 projecting laterally from the bracket a. The part a5 of the bearing member is provided with` a recess having a flaring mouth to readily receive that end of the spring or springs which is to engage therewith, as seen .in Fig. 5, and the journal a2 is of such dimensions thatvthe opening in the bracket which receives such part readily receives the spring or springs S as they are passed .endwise through the' bracket when being placed in proper position relatively to thehinge mem- This removable part a2 is preferably provided at its innerend with a. cup-shaped recess for receiving the end of the spring, or springs, which is held in an axial recess in the part a2 opening into said cup-shaped recess.

The hinge is `preferably located some distance away from that edge of the door which is adjacent to the body of the .car so that as the trap door is opened that portion of it which extends beyond the hinge toward the body portion of the car 'moves downwardly and opens the space adjacent to the body of the car for the ready removal or escape of any dirt or other material which may have gathered there and which might interfere with the proper opening of the vestibule and trap doors. hinge members relatively to the trap door not only provides for the ready escape of dirt, but also permits of the upper surface of the door being continued -and extended slightly underneath the upright portion of the body of the car and makes a fine finish when the door is closed and the space next the body of the car is exposed` to view. In addition that portion of the weight of the door between the hinge members and the bddy of the car counterbalances a 'Corresponding weight on the opposite side of the hinge and in this vvay relieves the spring or springs S of a portion of the work they otherwise would do in assisting in opening and clbsing the trap door. The described position of the hinge brings the longitudinal axis` thereof a distance away from, or

`in advance of, the adjacent edge of the contiguous corner post, as clearly appears i-n Fig. 1 so that the withdrawal of the journal a2 from the bracket a is not interfered with by any partof the car frame.

In the embodiment of the invention herein disclosed the ordinary vestibule door moves over the trap door in opening and closing and is necessarily opened before the trap door can be opened. As such vestibule door in opening swings past the axial line of the hinge of the trap door into the position seen in Fig. 4, the trap door is readily opened into the position seen iw dotted lines This arrangement of the to allow passengers ready egress from and ingress to the car. lf the station beone where the platform thereof is siibstantialb7 on a level with that of the platform of thc car the trap door is not to be. opened and is used in the closed position for the egress and ingress of passengers. ln such cases the ,tend substantially to the outer edge of the carrso that when used at stations having platforms substantially level with the platforms of the cars there will be no substantial opening between the trap door and platform of the station to interfere with the ready egress from and i'ngress to the car. lVhen the vestibule door swings over the trapdoor and platform of the car, it is desirable that that portion of the trap door extending under and beyond the vestibule door should be suitably formed to admit of the ready escape of' water or other .material dropping thereon and also be suitably formed to prevent passengers and others from slipping thereon in the usc of the door.

As shown (see Fig. 5), the outer or exposed, portion (f) of the trap door is formed somewhat as the threshold ofen ordinary outside door of a, building formed and` is preferably made by an additional piece of n aterial formed as shown to strengthen that part of the door and it is to be provided with any suitable means such as corrngations, Src., for preventing persons from slipping thereon and also to provide for the ready escape of water or dirt falling or dripping thereon during storms or at other times. The upper surface of this'trap door may be covered with anysuitable material such as is used in the covering of the vestibule platform of the eur and such material may be made to extend'throughout substantially the entire surface of the door or otherwise as desired, the proper formation being given to the outwardly extending portion to provide for the ready escape of water and other materials falling thereon. v

As shown, the threshold O is provided with an offset, Fig. 2, and the portion .of the threshold extending outwardly from the offset is arranged in a plane different from the plane of the major portion of the tread surface of the door, nd, as herein illustrated, said portion of the threshold is a-rranged at an vangle to theima jor portion of the door and the platform. 1 f

The trap door may be provided with any suitable means for holding; it in the closed position agrainut aeridental or unauthorized opening of the mime. AS ho\:n a l'orm ol' holding or locking meanal is here employed lun ing' a holt or dot; i pivolally mounted on the plal'orm and adapled lo engage with the door as it ia moved into the rloaed po i tion and hold it in aurh position until ian-h dogg i\ l'orrildv removed out ol' holding or locking position. 'This is afwunplidied h v means ol' a plunger 1" nihil-lr ia vonneel'ed with a portion olf Snell dogV and aa lQuell plunger is moved don'nwardly7 hy pres`- Sure thereon iu that diret-tion. lho log i is moved against the tene-ion oll the spring 5'" out ol' holding or lurking position and the door is free to he opened. Il' the tension oi the spring or springs S lie Saleh as to partially open the door then sueh door immediateljY opens when released 'l'rom the holding aetion ol the dog The plunger i provided underneath theI platform with a handle fz hy n'hieh f'oreeA may he, applied thereto in a dowrnvard direetion to uuloek the dog z' and operato the door .vhea desired. As drown a spring i is provided to overeome the weight of the plunger i" and if desired aid.

the npring` i in mm ingr the dof.: z' inlo loelilng position. lt uill he nnmil'est that the sii-ed aS to more and holdA the holt and plunger i" in the positlouu1 shown in the drawings. The means thus deaerilied for holding'the trap door in the eloaed punition` l'orms no nelessary part ol' the presaad invention` the means thus shown lieingg a ron- \'enient l'orm lor so holdingr the door lult any other form oll means desired may he employed lor this purpose.

lhat l haw herein hown and described will naturally suggest to others Skilled in thin` art other embodiments oli this invention and also modilieations in the eonstrmtion and arrangeimnt. of the pai;ts"\vherein Huh- :stantially the mme results may liu aeeomplished Irv eomliimxiions of eleuientb or de vices having essentially the Same mode olf operation as the combinations that are, partieularly pointed out in the elaims hereunto annexed, henee l do not wish to limit my invention to the aperific form and arrangement herein shown'and deaerihed, but dem siro to inrludo all forms and arrangements' whieh embody the spirit of my invention and which have ,Lailirlantially the same mode of operation as# do the. speeilie parl?,` and arrangen'ients herein set forth.

what I desire to elaim as new isz-- l. The eomhination, in a. vestibule passe ,ger earf olA a vestibule door mounted to swing); on a vertieal axia. and a platform trap-door movalile about a horizontal aiis, and having a part projeeting lieyoud the outer faee of the vestibule door when hoth doors are eloaed,

L". The eomhination, in a vestibule passenlLfer ear, of a vestibule door mounted to vying on a vertieal axis, and a platform trap-door movalile about a horizontal axis, and having a part pmieeting beyond the oul'fr laee of the xeeitilinle door when both door, are elosed` Said proierting part llaving' its l'aee dispowd in a plane dilferent from that in whieli the l'aee of the major porlion of the trap door is loeated.

il. "he eomlvination in a ve liliule paSSCIl- `fer ear. including side po;t-'` of a trap door hirujed to I[urn ou an avis exleinling: transver ely of the ear, Said a\;i being loeated al; one aide. or in advanee ol the adiaeent post, and Said hinge inf-lading: a supporting menn lier on the ear, a hearing memller on the lrapaloor, a liournal memlier held 'in the ear importing member and projerting laterally therefrom and engaging" the door hearin;r memla-r. and a torqonal spring' engaged at one end with the door-hearing member and having` an engagement, at ifa ether end with the journal. said journal leiug shiftn able outwardlyr in an axial direetion for diS engaging the spring and door hearing memlier.

l. ln a pasffenyffr ear, a frame, a trapdoor. and means for pivotally eonneeting the door to the frame. and for plaein):r the door under Spring tenaion, eompriaing: n lirarlie mounted on the frame. a hearing mounted on the, door and loeated at one side ol' the ln'aeleuh a journal reinovalily muur-.ted in the lu'aelret and havingr a portion extending' laterally ilnf-rel'iom and engaging Lhe door-lwaring nnanlier anda duingeonneeted al one end lo the door and letaehalily eenneeted at ifa other end to aid journal.

5. Tn a paweuger ear and in eomliination, a trap door. and Inean' l'or pivotally eonnei-ting the door to the car and for placing the door under spring `temion, comprising a hearing member carried hy the door, a ournal fixed to the frame of he ear and engaging the inner end of the nearing member, a -ionrnal adjmtalily mounted in the frame and engagin the oposite end of the hearing memller, anra torsional spring detaehably held at; one, end by the last named journal and erinnern-d at itsother end to the door, the journal last named being;` removable by a movement in an axial direction from engagement with the door lmaringmemher and the spring.

o. ln a passenger ear and in o1nhim\lion, a trap door, and means for hingring the door in the frame of the enr including a hearing member earried hy the door, a support earried hy thel frame. a spring for lifting the door and a journal carried hy the l@apport and having-onev end projecting` within the l door member and shdably engaging an end of the spring, said gouroalbeing movable rin an endwise direction for disengaging the spring and door member nherebv the cent end of the door n'iay be shifted lateri ally.

thereof which are substantially parallel with the axial line of such hinges and to the platform ,thereby nmvably connecting the door ther to, and a vestibule demy mounted on the car and adapted to swing over the trap doen in opening and closing such vestibule door.

S. ln a' vestibiele platform the combination, sullstantially as set forth, of a trap door arh'ptedl to extend under and beyond theI vestlbiile door, hinges attached to the unrlersido of the dow awar from the rear edge thereof adaptenv to 'alfy connect the door to the platform, and a vestibule door movably mounted on the car and adapted to yopen "and close when the trap door is in the closed position.

9. In vestibule platform the combination, sub tantially as set forth, of a. trap door provided with a threshold portion having an olfset formed thereon adapted to opposethe entrance of water or other material from the exterior of the car to the main portion of the platform, which threshold portion extends under and beyond the vestibule door, hinges arranged underneath the door adapted to movably connect the trap door to the platform, and a vestibule door movably mounted on the car and adapted to swing over such threshold portion of the trap door in opening and closing. i 10. Inla \'f:-;.tilml platform the combination, substantially as set forth, of a trap door provided with a threshold portion having),r an olii-1ct.. formed thereon, the outwardly extending part of such portion being arranged at an obtuse angle to the-door and platform, `which threshold portion extends under and beyond the vestibule door, hinges adapted to movably connect the trap door to the plr-.tforl'rn and a vestibule door movably mounted on the car and adapted to swing over such threshold portion in opening and closing. l

1l. In a vestibule platform the combination, substantially as set forth, of a trap door lfrovided with a threshold portion formed separately from the main portion of the door and which is provided with means adapted to oppose the entrance of Water or other material from the exterior of the car and is attached to the trap door so as to extend beyond the vestibule door, 66 hinges arranged underneath and away from the rear edge of the door adapted to movably connect the trap door to the platform,- and a vestibule door movably mounted on the car and adapted to move'over the thresh- 70 old in opening vand closing.

12. In a vestibule platform the 'combination, substantially as set forth, of a trap door provided with -a` threshold portion formed separately from the main portion of the door and which .is provided with means adapted' to oppose'the entrance of water and other material from the exteriorl of the car and is attached to the trap door so as to stillen and. streng-then that portion of the door to which it is attached, hinges adapted to movably connect the trap door to theY platform, and a vestibule door movably mounted on thecar and adapted to move over the` threshold in opening and closing.

13. In a vestibule platform the combination, substantially as set forth, of a' trap door adapted to extend to a pointv substantially coincident with the exterior side ortion of fthe car, hinging means attache to the trap door between the side edges and Wholly atr one yside of said door to movably connect the door with the platform and uncover a portion of the openn in the latform on each side of the axial ine on W ich 96 the door swings in opening, and a vestibule door movably mounted on the car and adapt-- ed to swing over the trap door when closed, in opening and closing.

14.' In a platform the combination, sub- N0 stantially as set forth, of a trap door, hinging means attached to one side of the trap door and to the platform to movably .conneet the door thereto the axial line of which hinging means is some distance below such door, when in the closed position, a splting or springs connected with the hinging means for more or lesscounterbalancing the weight of the door, and means coacting with such hinging meansadapted to adjust the tension of the spring or springs. r

,15.` In aV platform the combination, substantially as set forth, of a trap door, hinging means attached to one side of the door and to the platform for movably connecting the door thereto, a spring or springs arranged in substantially the axial line of thxf lxinging means and removable from the other portions without disturbing the fastenings of such means for placing the spring or springs in operative position relatively to the hinging means and removing them therefrom, v

11'. In :i platform the combination, substantially as set forth, of a trap door, hinging nwans attached to the door andpla'tform for movably connectingr thc door thereto, which means is provided with a part which is rotatable in the axial line of such means and is adapted to be held in different -fixed relations to the portion of such means in which it rotates and is removable therefrom in an endwise direction without disturbing the mourning or' such means 0n the door and plattornr and. means adapted to hohl sui-,h rotatable part in operative relation to and releaf-e it from the other portions olI the hinging means:

17. In a platform the combination, substantially as set forth, otl a trap door, hinging means atta ehed to the door and platform in such relation thereto that a rotatable part and springs are free to pass into the hinging means along the axial line thereof, a rotatable part arranged in the axial line of suoli means and adapted to be held in and removed from the other portions thereof and re eiie one end ot a spring or springs., a spring or springeadapted to be received by and be engaged with a portionof the hinging means and such rotatable part, and means adapted to engage with such rotatable` part and that portion ot' the hinging means in which the rotatable part mounted and hold the spring or springs in operatiie relation with the hinging means and trap door.

18. ln a, platform the Combination, Substantially a5 @et forth, ot' a trap door, hing ing nuaia-t attached to the door and platform in suoli relation thereto an not. to interfere with the movement ot springe in line with the axis ot such means for nio'vabl)Y connettiing the door thereto, which means is provided with a iotatalile part mounted 0n 'the platform and removable from its` mounting in an i-mlwise dirertion and adapted to rereice and hold one end ot a spring or springs. r. spring or .springs adapted to engage with the rotatablil part and the trap door. and nit-:im engageable with the rota table pait :init its` mounting adapt-i, l to hohl such rotatable part in opiiatire relations; to and release it troni ita mounting.

19. In :i plat?, the eonibinathin, :ail:- stantiallv as: not Jtortli. ot' a trap door, hinging means roiuposett in part ot' an. endwise removable rotatable part :unl its` mounting t'or inovably connecting the door to the platitorin. a Spring or springs adapted to pass b v the platform through the mounting of' the rotatable part, 'wlmi siieh part is removed tlwrel'roin. and ronnect with such longing means and the rotatable part, when sut-li part in in place in its mounting and means adapted to engage with Hi-lz "i tatihle part and its mounting in a. nf; iiV twinsvcrse thereto to ,imi-l iff spring or springs under operativ? teman :o more or less counterbalam-tA the trap door.

20. ln a plat-torio they eouihinat 1;. stantially as set lorth. of fi iv door,

therein, and

ing means composed in part of a rotatable portion and a mounting therefor, which p0rtion is provided with a plurality of series of engaging surfaces, each series arranged eircumferentially of and at different axial points lengthwise of such portion, and which mounting is provided with a plurality of engaging surfaces, one surface for each circumferential series of surfaces on the rotatable portion, the surfaces in each circumferential series being adapted to register `with the corresponding engaging surface in the mounting as such portion 1s rotated a stop device adapted to engage with one of the surfaces in the mounting and one of the surfaces of the registerable series of theI rotatable portion and ixedly hold such. portion in operative relation in its mounting.

2L ln a platform the combination, substantially as set forth, of a trap door, hinging means composed in part of a rotatable portion and a mounting therefor, which portion is provided with a pluralit)v of axial openings, each series arranged circumferentially of and at did'erent axial points lengthwise ot.' sut-.h portion, and which mounting is provided with a plurality of openings each ot which openings is adapted to register with a series of axial openings on the rotatable portion, and a stop or pin adapted to enter one of the openings in the mounting and one ot the openings in the eorresponding series oi the rotatable portion and llxedly hohl Such mounting.

lin a platform the eombination, substantially as set forth, oi' a trap door, hinging means adapted to inovably connect the door to the platform which means .is provided with a rotatable part and a casing therefor adapted to receive such part from the exterior of the oar in an endwise direction without disturbing the attachment of the hinging means to the platform or door and hold it in operative position therein and through which a spring may pass to engage with the trap door, a ISpring adapted to pass through the casing for the rotatable part in an endwise direetii'm and engage with the rotatable part when in operatic position, and means adapted to hold the rotatable part in operative position in its casing.

93. In a platform the combination, silbstantially as set forth, ot' a` trap door, hinging means adapted to movablifv Connect the door to the platform, which means is provided with a rotatable part, a casing theret'or and adjusting means adapted to hold such rotatable part in dill'erent positions relatively to the raising in which it is mountil. mealr-i connected with the hinging means f ilapted to receive and guidel a spring into an engagement therewith, said rotatable part portion in operative relation in its engagement therewith in adjusting such part in operative position in its casing, and

a spring adapted to engage with a portion of the hinging means andthe rotatable part and more or less connterbalance the trap door.

.24. In a platform the combination, substantially as set forth, of a trap door, hinging means adapted to movably connect the door to the platform, which means is provided with a rotatable part and Va casing therefor, means connecting with the hinging means adapted to receive a spring engageable therewith, adjusting means consisting of a stop pin, a plurality of openings in the casing for the rotatable part and a plurality of series of axially arranged holes formed in the rotatalf/le part each oiAl which Iseries 1s arranged at dillcrent angular points relatively to the axis on which such rotatable `part rotates and also lengthwise thereof, the lengthwise arrangement being coincident with the openings in the easing, and a spring adapted to engage with a portion of the hingng means and the rotatable part and more or less counterlmlanre the trap door.

25. In a platform the combination, substantially as set forth, of a trap door, hing-` ing means composed in part' of an endwree removable rotatable part and its mounting for movably connecting the door to the platform, a spring or springsl adapted to pass through the mounting of the rotatable part, when such part is removed therefrom. and connect with such hinging means and the rotatable part, when such part lehrt?,-f placed in its mounting, a

ings formed in the mounting ot the rotatable part and a plurality nl' series oll openings in the rotatable part adapted to receive a stop or pin, each ot' the plurality of the openings in the mounting being adapted to register with a series of openings in the rotatable part, and a pin or stop adapted to enter any one of tlie'opcnings of the mounting and an opening of its corresponding series in the rotatable part to hold the springr or springs under operative tension to more or less counterbalance the trap door.

26. In al platform the combination, substantially as act forth, of a trap door, hinging means for mounting the door in the platform composed in part of an endwise removable rotatable part, its mounting, and adjusting means for holding such part in the desired position in its mounting, which rotatable par( is adapted to receive and engage with one end o'l' a spring or springs the opposite rnd or ends of which are received andrngaged by the opjiosito portion of the hingingr means, and a spring or springs adapted to be placed in operative position lnralirry ol' openLA without disturbing those portions of the iinging means directly attached to the platorm.

27. In a platform the combination, substantially as set forth, of a trap door, hinlging means adapted to movably connect t door to the platform, which means is provided with a rotatable part, a casing therefor and adjusting means adapted to hold such rotatable part in different positions relatively to the casing in which it is mounted, cup shaped means'connected with the hinging means'adapted to receive and guide a spring into engagement with the hinging means, the rotatable part being' provided with a cup shaped recess in one end thereof to receive and guide a spring into engagement therewith in adjusting such part in operative position in its easing, and a spring adapted to engage with a portionrof the -hinging means and the rotatable part and more or lesseounterbalanee the trap door.

2S. In a platform the combination, substantially as set forth, of a trap door, hingingmeans arranged belowI and away from the underside and rear edge of the trap door :ldapted to movably connect the door to the platform, which means is provided with a rotatable part and a casing therefor adapted torreceive and hold such part and throu h wl ich a spring may pass to engage with t e hilig'ng means, a spring adapted to pass through the easing in which the rotatable part is mounted and engage with a portion of the hinging means and such rotatable art. and means adapted to hold such roctlizsble part in operative position in its 'easing Q9. In a platform the combination, substantially as set forth, of a trap door, hinging means adapted to movably connect the door to the platform which means is provided with a rotatable part and a casing arranged relatively thereto 'for receiving such rotatable part from the exterior of the car in an endwise direction Without disturbing the attachment of such means thereto and hol d it in operative position-therein and through which a spring may pass to engage with the hinging means, a spring adapted to pass through the casing for the rotatable part in an endwise direction from the exterior of the ear and engage with a portion of the hinging means and the ro tatable part, and means adaptjed to hold the rotatable part in operative position in its' asingt 80. In a platform the combination, substantially as set forth, of a trap door, hinging means adapted to movably connect the door to the platform which means is provided with a rotatable part and a casing arranged relatively thereto for receivin such part, adjusting means adapted t0 hol such rotatable part in different positions spring adapted tu engage with a portion of relatlvely to the casing 1n which itis mountthe lunglng means and its rotatable part und ed means connvctd wlth the hnwin means more or 1055 conntorlmhlnce the tra i door.

adapted t0 recciw :ind guide u spring intfr OLIVER M..ED\VARDS. engagement with such hmgxng means and Witnesses: the rotatable part inladjustmg such part Gnomi: G. humus,

in operative position in the Casing, and u (bauma-z W. Cowan. 

